This isn't just theology—it's the foundation of salvation itself
You might be thinking: “Okay, I see the evidence that Scripture presents Jesus as God. But why is this so important? Can't I just believe Jesus was God's first creation, His ‘master worker,’ and still be saved?”
The answer is no. And here's why.
“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.”
— John 8:24 (LSB)
Jesus Himself declares that believing in His divine identity is required to avoid dying in your sins. Notice:
Jesus repeated this claim throughout John's Gospel:
Jesus said believing in His divine identity is required to avoid dying in your sins. This isn't optional theology—it's the foundation of salvation.
“...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved... for ‘WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’”
— Romans 10:9, 13 (LSB)
Let's focus on that word “Lord” (Greek: Kyrios / κύριος).
In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint), the translators used “Kyrios” to translate the personal name of God (YHWH). Every time you read “LORD” in small caps in an English Old Testament, the Greek Septuagint uses “Kyrios.”
When Paul writes “confess... Jesus as Lord” (Kyrios), he's saying: “confess that Jesus is YHWH.”
Notice Paul's logic in Romans 10:
Paul quotes Joel 2:32, which in the original Hebrew says “whoever calls on the name of YHWH will be saved.” Paul applies this to Jesus. Calling on Jesus' name IS calling on Yahweh's name.
Salvation requires confessing that Jesus is Yahweh—not merely a good teacher, prophet, or created being.
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
— Acts 4:12 (LSB)
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
— John 14:6 (LSB)
Now connect this with Isaiah 43:11:
“I, even I, am Yahweh, and there is no savior besides Me.”
— Isaiah 43:11 (LSB)
If there is no savior besides Yahweh, and Jesus is the only name that saves, then Jesus IS Yahweh.
Here's a fundamental theological problem that the early church wrestled with: How can sinful humanity be reconciled to an infinite, holy God?
If Jesus Is a Created Being...
If Jesus is the archangel Michael, or God's “first creation,” then:
A created being—no matter how exalted—cannot pay the infinite debt of sin against an infinite God. The mathematics doesn't work.
If Jesus is not God, we have no Savior. Our sins remain unpaid. We are still dead in our trespasses.
“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
— Hebrews 10:4 (LSB)
Animal sacrifices were insufficient—they could only provide temporary covering, not permanent removal of sin. The sacrifice must be of infinite value to satisfy the infinite debt of sin against an infinite God.
The Heidelberg Catechism (Q&A 17) asks:
“Why must the mediator also be true God?”
“So that, by the power of his divinity, he might bear the weight of God's anger in his humanity and earn for us and restore to us righteousness and life.”
“Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
— Hebrews 7:25 (LSB)
Notice what this verse claims:
“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
— 1 Timothy 2:5 (LSB)
Jesus can be the mediator between God and man because He IS both God and man. He bridges the infinite gap between divine holiness and sinful humanity because He partakes of both natures.
“You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol... You shall not worship them or serve them”
— Exodus 20:3-5 (LSB)
God is absolutely clear: worship belongs to Him alone. Angels refuse worship (Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9). To worship any created being is idolatry.
Yet Jesus accepts worship throughout Scripture—and He never refuses it:
Revelation Shows Heaven Worshiping Jesus
“And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth... I heard saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.’”— Revelation 5:13 (LSB)
If Jesus is not God, heaven itself is committing cosmic idolatry.
Finally, and most importantly for your journey: you must pray TO Jesus, not just through Him.
“They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!’ Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them!’”
— Acts 7:59-60 (LSB)
Stephen prayed to Jesus as he was dying. Notice:
Even the Watchtower acknowledged this:
“Obviously, then, Stephen's words, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,’ were a prayer.”— The Watchtower, February 1, 1959, p. 96
Paul also prayed to Jesus (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). John prayed to Jesus (“Come, Lord Jesus” — Revelation 22:20). Christians are defined as those who “call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
The Jehovah's Witnesses are right about one thing: you cannot pray to angels or created beings. That would be idolatry.
But if Jesus is God, then praying to Him isn't just permitted—it's required for salvation.
The Watchtower teaches you to pray through Jesus to Jehovah. But Scripture teaches you to pray TO Jesus.
This isn't a small difference. This is the difference between salvation and being lost.
You may have questions or objections. Here are brief responses to the most common ones:
“Jesus is ‘a god,’ not THE God”
This creates polytheism. Isaiah 43:10 says, “Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.” If Jesus is “a god” but not Yahweh, then either the Bible contradicts itself, or Jesus is a false god.
“The Bible says Jesus is the Son of God, not God”
In ancient usage, “Son of” means “same nature as.” The Jews understood this—that's why they tried to stone Jesus for “making Himself equal with God” when He called God His Father (John 5:18).
“We can pray THROUGH Jesus without praying TO Him”
Scripture shows both. Yes, we pray through Jesus (John 14:13). But Scripture also shows direct prayer TO Jesus: Stephen (Acts 7:59), Paul (2 Cor 12:8), John (Rev 22:20), and all Christians who “call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:2).
To be saved, you must:
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name”
— John 1:12 (LSB)
You must receive Jesus—not just as teacher, prophet, or “master worker,” but as God Himself come in the flesh to save you.
I know this might feel like a huge step. You've been taught your entire life that praying to Jesus is wrong, that it's a form of idolatry.
But what if everything you've been taught was backwards? What if not praying to Jesus is what cuts you off from salvation?
Let me share my story of the first time I prayed to Jesus—and what happened.